Colin Simpson (Canadian author)

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Colin Simpson is a Canadian entrepreneur, software developer, and author known for making electronics education more accessible through simulation software and online programs. He has written seven textbooks, including the best-selling Principles of Electronics, with more than 500,000 copies in print. He is regarded as an expert in electronics teaching and electronics simulation technology.

Early life and education
Simpson was born in North Bay, Ontario, to a family with British roots. He earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii and a Doctorate of Letters from Nipissing University. He is also a musician and record producer, and in his 20s was part of the band Champion, which achieved gold record status in Canada and earned a CASBY Award nomination in 1989.

Educational innovations and CircuitLogix
As an electronics professor at George Brown College in Toronto, Simpson noticed that financially disadvantaged students couldn’t afford electronics simulation software, which affected their grades. He developed a free electronics circuit simulator and worked with computer programmer Bud Skinner to create CircuitLogix. The commercial version, CircuitLogix Pro, launched in 2005 and, by 2012, had 250,000 licensed users in more than 100 countries. Simpson wrote his fourth book, Principles of Electronics, to align with simulation software and demonstrated that electronics simulations could yield results identical to real laboratory experiments, helping overcome early opposition to using simulation in teaching. He holds two patents in electronics laboratory simulation and control systems technology and has been widely featured by media outlets such as the CBC, PBS, CTV, TVOntario, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and Chicago Tribune.

Distance education and impact on access
In 1997, the Electronics Technician distance education program (ET) received accreditation from Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. In its first year, it enrolled over 500 students from 17 countries, with many companies sponsoring employees. The ET program became the largest distance electronics program of its kind, and overall, more than 10,000 students have studied electronics at a distance. The program helped break gender barriers in electronics education, with nearly 20% of ET students being female, compared to under 2% in traditional programs. The asynchronous nature of the online programs also attracted many mature students seeking flexible learning options.

Robotics, automation, and online programs
In 2008, Simpson published Introduction to Robotics and oversaw the development of RoboLogix, a robotics simulator completed in 2009. The robotics program grew to over 800 online students in 15 countries. He launched the online Robotics Technician program and, in 2006, the PLC Technician program based on his book Programmable Logic Controllers. PLCLogix, released in 2013, simulates Rockwell Automation’s Logix 5000 and is used in training across many companies. In 2014, Simpson and Skinner released LogixSim, a software suite that includes CircuitLogix, RoboLogix, PLCLogix, and 3DLab, widely used in colleges and universities. In 2015, he started the Automation Technician program using LogixSim. The 2022 EV Technician online program adds an enhanced CircuitLogix to safely test high-voltage electric vehicle devices and charging stations, reflecting industry demand for EV technicians.

Personal life and interests
Beyond his work in electronics and education, Simpson is a musician and producer. His early musical career with Champion helped shape his interest in electronics, particularly in repairing and designing audio equipment used by bands he performed with. He is also noted for his family history connected to abolitionist James Phillippo in Jamaica.

Awards and honors
Simpson has received several awards for his work in education and technology. Highlights include the 1996 Award of Excellence from the Software Publishers Association (shared with Joe Koenig) for work in simulation and multimedia, the 1998 ACCC Program Excellence Award for the Electronics Technician distance education program, a 2003 Ontario government grant of $1 million to develop a virtual campus, the 2014 Platinum Author award for half a million textbooks sold, and an Honorary Doctorate from Nipissing University in 2015 for his global contributions to post-secondary education as an author and software developer.

Selected works
Simpson is the author of multiple textbooks, including Industrial Electronics (1995), Introduction to Electric Circuits and Machines (1992), Introduction to Robotics (2008), Lab Manual for Principles of Electronics (2002), Principles of Electronics (2002), Programmable Logic Controllers (2006), and Study Guide to Accompany Principles of Electronics (2002). He has also contributed to various other educational texts and resources.

In summary, Colin Simpson has combined teaching, software development, and publishing to transform electronics education, making advanced tools and programs accessible worldwide and inspiring a new generation of students and professionals.